In professional sports and leagues, the power rankings represent an unofficial way to determine the hottest teams in the circuit.
This is also true for MLB: the power rankings combine season-long performance with recent play to offer an updated ranking and a better idea of who’s hot and who’s not.
The beauty of them is that they can be used even when there is no season.
The league’s official Twitter account posted the first power rankings of the new year.
The first power rankings of 2023. pic.twitter.com/YmB92QXNpt
— MLB (@MLB) January 2, 2023
As one could have probably expected, it has the Houston Astros at the top.
They are the reigning World Series champions and, while they lost Justin Verlander to free agency, they still have a deep and talented rotation.
Additionally, they added Jose Abreu to their lineup.
The New York Mets may have lost Jacob deGrom, but added Verlander, Kodai Senga, Jose Quintana, and re-signed Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Diaz.
They remain a powerhouse.
The Atlanta Braves check in at third place.
They took away the NL East crown from the Mets late in the 2022 season, have won the division five years in a row and have a talented core signed for the long-term.
The San Diego Padres are fourth, and the New York Yankees are fifth after retaining Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo and signing Carlos Rodon.
The National League champs, the Philadelphia Phillies, are sixth after adding Trea Turner.
Three NL East teams are in the top six, which is impressive to say the least.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Tampa Bay Rays complete the top ten.
